Introducing Ben Rehder…

I first met Ben Rehder in Texas. That was the second place I met him too. Good thing he's from there. We met in Murder by the Book in Houston when I was promoting my second book He was doing the same and we were sitting at a table with Bill Crider who was promoting his fortieth or fiftieth. Ben came with files to prove that he did research so anything he may say either here or on his website about not working at his craft is pure hokum (which I'm pretty sure is a Texasism).

Steven: Do you consider yourself a regional writer? What I mean is, do you consider it part of your aim in each novel to introduce Texas as you know it to readers? Would you ever write about some place other than Texas?

Ben: I guess anyone who writes about an area that isn't immediately familiar to the reader (in my case, the Texas Hill Country) is going to be considered a regional writer. By that definition, yes, I'm "regional," although introducing readers to Texas wasn't one of my original goals. I just wanted to write something fun set in my home area, because I KNOW my home area. But since many readers think Texas is nothing but dusty plains, oil wells, and mullet-headed banjo strummers, that meant I had to do some "reeducating." I don't know whether I could write about someplace other than Texas -- but if I did, I'd have to do a lot of research. Or make up a bunch of crap and not worry whether it's accurate.

I can tell that you consider yourself a comic writer -- it says so on your website -- but I've heard the rumor that you're thinking of branching out to the Thriller/Suspense genre. Can you confirm the rumor and (even if you don't confirm it) will that book be comic as well?

I love writing humor, especially really over-the-top stuff like the Blanco novels. But, yes, I'm trying something new right now -- a dark, gory thriller. Not funny at all -- unless slashed throats are funny. We'll see how that goes. I find it a lot more difficult than writing humor, which is odd, because "serious" writers have always told me that they have a tough time writing humor.

You say plotting is a big part of what you do to earn your checks (and the adulation of millions). I can attest to the fact that it pays off in Flat Crazy, but as a writer I am curious to find out whether you treat the plotting as seperate from the comedy or does it all come to you at once? I guess I'm asking whether you plotted out Flat Crazy then came back after a few beers and said "Chinese dwarf porn stars"?

Boy, that's a tough question. I would say this: As I'm plotting things out, my goal isn't necessarily to be funny, it's just to have the potential to be funny. I want to create situations and scenarios that can wind up humorous. For instance, some Chinese people use ground-up antlers as an aphrodisiac. So I pushed it to the extreme. What Chinese person would need or want that aphrodisiac more than any other person? How about a porn star who is suffering from erectile dysfunction? So his job and his self-confidence are both on the line. And I made him a dwarf because, well, I hate to sound like an insensitive clod, but it was just funnier that way. Can't tell you why, other than the fact that the idea of dwarf porn strikes me as pretty funny.

I don't usually finish a novel and think, "Wow, that author sure is a nifty plotter." Plotting is just another part of the storytelling package -- like writing dialogue or narrative or action or humor -- and when it's done well, it should be seamless. I never thought about whether I admired any particular author's plotting skills until now, but since you asked...Hiaasen does a masterful job at keeping the story rolling along, and that's what we all want, right? We don't want to feel that the story is stalled or bogged down in minute details. Whether it's humor or a dark thriller, keep it moving! Harlan Coben does a great job at that, as do my fellow Texans Rick Riordan and Jeff Abbott. Tim Cockey, too. Plus everyone on that list you mentioned, which is why they're on that list.

For those who would like to emulate your success -- any do's and don'ts about writing in general or the writing of comic mystery novels set in Blanco County specifically that you'd like to share?

Hey, don't emulate my success! Emulate Hiaasen's or Dan Brown's! You'll be much happier that way. Aspiring writers should know that there is an oft-repeated rule in the biz that "humorous" mysteries don't sell as well as "straight" mysteries. Don't know whether that's true or not, but how many writers of humorous mysteries can you think of who make the bestseller lists? Maybe that's the answer right there. Regarding other writing advice: If you go into it knowing that you probably won't make a living at it, you'll never come close to making the bestseller list, and the average person on the street will never have any idea who you are -- and you STILL want to write, then do it. For lots of published authors, it never becomes anything more than a hobby that happens to pay a little. Of course, most of us want more than that, and the potential is there, but don't start writing a manuscript unless you can be content with the idea that you won't be ditching your day job anytime soon. I'm proud to carry such an uplifting message.